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This is little Somma Chapman who was watching a DVD in her bedroom with her six-year-old sister when the unthinkable happened.

Somehow, the elder girl accidentally shot three-year-old Somma in the back of her head with an airgun - and the pellet lodged in the centre of her brain.

Somma now faces growing up with the pellet in her head as surgeons say it is too dangerous to remove it. Instead they will leave it where it is and hope she makes a full recovery.

The elder sister raised the alarm on Monday evening, and Somma was taken to hospital by her family, who run a pub. At first medics and her family did not realise what had happened. But next day, a brain scan revealed the pellet.

Doctors then alerted police, who are investigating how the weapon got into the hands of a child at the pub in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.

It is believed both young girls are stepdaughters of the pub landlord.

Det Insp Wayne Jones said: "Somma was in a upstairs bedroom of the Normacot Hotel watching a DVD with her six-year-old sister.

"The elder sister came downstairs to fetch her mother. She discovered Somma collapsed and called an ambulance. Next day, police had a call from the University Hospital of North Staffordshire after a scan revealed an air weapon pellet was lodged in the centre of her brain."

He said the pellet had gone in behind Somma's left ear. She was transferred to a specialist neuro-surgical unit in Nottingham.

Di Jones said: "She is now in a stable and comfortable condition. She is sitting up watching television and talking to her family who are by her bedside. The intention is to leave the pellet where it is and hope she will make a full recovery."

He added: "The six-year-old sister was holding the airgun when the pellet was fired. We are not confirming what type of air weapon it was." He appealed for owners of airguns not to let them into the hands of children.

He said: "A lot of people don't realise how dangerous weapons like these are. Some consider them no more than toys, but they should be kept secure and away from children, particularly during school holidays.

"It is too early to say if charges will follow. The thought of that is the last thing the family needs at the moment. However, we will be speaking to the CPS."

He said the probe intended to find out who owned the weapon and how a six-year-old could get hold of it. "Having said that, we are convinced it is a terrible accident."